Celebrating Rosh Hashanah 2012 in Needham

This Sunday, Sept. 16, as the day draws to a close, Needham's Jewish community will ring in year 5773 as part of their celebration of Rosh Hashanah, or the Jewish New Year. The festivities will continue until nightfall on Tuesday, Sept. 18.

In Needham, services are scheduled at several local temples, including:

, 472 High Rock St., Needham

Chabad Jewish Center invites Jewish families and individuals in the Needham community "to the most inspiring and meaningful High Holiday Services, in a place where everyone feels at home and welcome." The schedule begins with an Introduction to the High Holidays on Sunday, Sept. 16 at 6:45 p.m., followed by Evening Services at 7:15 p.m. and a Rosh Hashanah dinner (RSVP required).

On Monday, Sept. 17, there will be Morning Services at 9:30 a.m. followed by the blowing of the Shofar at about 11:30 a.m. and the Birkas Kohanim, The Priestly Blessings. Family Tashlich, a waterfront service, will be held at 5:30 p.m. at Sportsman's (Trout Pond) on Great Plain Avenue. Evening Services will begin at 7:15 p.m.

The schedule for Tuesday, Sept. 18 includes Morning Services at 9:30 a.m. followed by the blowing of the Shofar at about 11:30 a.m. and the Birkas Kohanim, The Priestly Blessings. Evening Services will begin at 7:15 p.m., followed by a Rosh Hashana Dinner (RSVP required).

, 754 Greendale Ave., Needham

Ruach Israel is a Messianic Jewish synagogue that conducts regular Shabbat Morning Services and Friday Shacharit Services and is housed within the .

High Holiday services will begin with Erev Rosh Hashanah on Sunday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m.

Services on Monday, Sept. 17 will include a Morning Service at 10 a.m., Oneg at 12:30 p.m. and Tashlikh at 2:30 p.m.

On the Second Day of Rosh Hashanah, Tuesday, Sept. 18, there will be a Morning Service at 9:30 a.m.

For more information, call the Ruach Israel office at 781-449-6264.

, 1664 Central Ave., Needham

From Temple President Fredie Kay, as published in Temple Aliyah's High Holidays and Sukkot Booklet (available on the temple website):

"It’s so good to be coming together for the High Holidays at our very special Temple Aliyah. We gather together as a community to start the new year. We come together to pray, to chant, to visit, to catch up, to 'kibbitz' a little, or—if you are one of our twenty-three (yes, 23!) new families—to meet new people and make new friends! Welcome new families, and returning families! Particularly with so many new families, I hope you will all extend a warm Happy New Year / Shanah Tovah to both those you know and those who may not look familiar. The High Holidays are a wonderful time to see friends and to make new friends."

The Rosh Hashanah services begin on Sunday, Sept. 16 with a Family Service (for families with children in kindergarten through grade 5) at 5 p.m. and Minchah/Maariv at 6:15 p.m.

On the First Day of Rosh Hashanah, Monday, Sept. 17, the schedule is as follows: Shaharit at 8:30 a.m., Torah Services at 9:30 a.m., Youth and Teen Services begin at 10:30 a.m., President's Appeal at 10:30 a.m., Sound Shofar at 10:45 a.m., Sermon at 11 a.m., Musaf at 11:30 a.m., Conclusion at 1 p.m., Temple Tots Service at 4 p.m., Get-Together under the tent at 4:15 p.m., Taschlich at 5 p.m., Minchah/Maariv at 6:15 p.m.

The schedule for the Second Day of Rosh Hashanah on Tuesday, Sept. 18 is as follows: Meditation Service at 8:15 a.m., Shaharit at 8:30 a.m., Temple Tots Service at 9:15 a.m., Torah Service at 9:30 a.m., Youth and Teen Services begin at 10:30 a.m., Sound Shofar at 10:30 a.m., Sermon at 11 a.m., Musaf at 11:30 a.m., Conclusion at 1 p.m., Staying Connected Get-Together at 4:15 p.m., Family Service (for families with children in kindergarten through grade 5) at 5 p.m., Minchah/Maariv at 6:15 p.m.

, 670 Highland Ave., Needham

From the Temple Beth Shalom website:

"The High Holy Days provide us an opportunity to reflect on the year to come together as a community. Please join us for all of our services and programs. The schedule for the High Holy Days (Selichot through Yom Kippur) can be found here. Tickets are required for many, although not all, of our services. You can download our ticket request form here. Please note that tickets will be available for purchase by non-members after Sept. 6. Our afternoon Young Children's and Teen's Services are open to anyone and do not require a ticket. If you have any questions about your ticket request, please contact us in the Main Office [781-444-0077]."

The schedule begins on Sunday, Sept. 16 with Erev Rosh Hashanah at 8 p.m.

On Monday, Sept. 17, there will be an Early Morning Service at 8:30 a.m., a Late Morning Service at 11:15 a.m., a Young Children's Family Service (TBS members only) at 2:45 p.m., a Rosh Hashana Teen Service at 2:45 p.m., a Tashlich Service at Elm Bank in Wellesley at 4:15 p.m. and an Afternoon Service (TBS members only) at 5:30 p.m.

A service for TBS members only will also be held on Tuesday, Sept. 18 at 10 a.m.

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Rosh Hashanah, which literally means “head of the year,” signals the beginning of the High Holy Days. Yom Kippur, or Day of Atonement, marks the end, and together they are two of the holiest days for Jews.

Like most New Year celebrations, Rosh Hashanah is a time of introspection and a time to bring about changes in the coming year. The traditional blowing of the shofar, or ram’s horn, during services on Rosh Hashanah marks a time to contemplate past mistakes and find ways to make things right.

On this day, as on Sabbath, Jews avoid work and spend the day with family. And where there’s a family gathering, can food be far behind? It’s no surprise that after services Jewish families tuck into an elaborate spread of traditional dishes.

The day begins with eating apples dipped in honey, in hopes that the new year will also be sweet. Another tradition is to bake challah, a round-shaped bread that is a symbol of the circle of life.

So, it's time to get into that festive mood! Patch has come up with some great recipes that will make your Rosh Hoshanah meal extra special this year.

Newton Patch contributor Wendy Schapiro shared her family recipe for a mouth-watering, traditional meal complete with , and .

Want to try something new this year? Take a look at this , which Susan Silverberg shared on Culver City Patch.

In the mood for some baking and indulging that sweet tooth at the same time? Try this recipe for from West Bloomfield Patch.

Here’s wishing you L’shanah Tovah—the traditional Happy New Year greeting— and B'tayavon (that’s Hebrew for "Bon appétit")!

How are you celebrating Rosh Hashanah this year? Share your Rosh Hashanah recipes and traditions with us in the comments section below!